ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker isn’t keen on the “load management” phrase, given how much he hears about it in basketball, but it may be the best way to describe how he’ll utilize his banged-up star players.
Schumaker said that outfielder Wyatt Langford and shortstop Corey Seager — who have combined for five different stints on the injured list this season — will likely get starts at designated hitter against left-handed pitchers in an effort to reduce their wear and tear when possible.
Langford started at designated hitter in consecutive games vs. the Washington Nationals, including Thursday’s series finale vs. left-handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez, and Seager could do the same against the two southpaw starters they’re projected to see in their next five games. Schumaker acknowledged that it’s “easier” to start Langford and Seager at designated hitter against lefties because the team would prefer to keep Joc Pederson at that position against right-handed pitchers.
“I do want to be careful with Wyatt,” Schumaker said. “I don’t think he’s been 100% [since his numerous trips to the injured list]. I want to make sure that we’re careful with how much he’s on his feet here. He’s going to have to play center field more often too, with the amount of lefties that are coming, so I want to make sure he’s geared up for that.”
Langford and Seager, who’ve battled everything from soft tissue injuries to concussions between the two this year, have missed 102 combined games this season.